“But can you tell me where he gets his whiskey?” — Abraham Lincoln (or maybe not) In 1863, the New York Herald published this story regarding President Lincoln’s response to criticism of General Grant: A committee of abolition war managers waited upon the President and demanded the General’s removal, on…

I started the day as I often do: a cup of tea, reading, and journaling. On this day, the tea and caffeine energized me, and I wrote in my journal that “I am feeling ready to tackle the day.” But then I stopped and looked at what I’d written. Tackle…

What’s the difference between confidence and arrogance? A mountain trail gave me an early lesson between the two. It was Labor Day my freshman year of high school, and my friend Mike asked if I wanted to hike a “fourteener” with him. In Colorado, “fourteener” or “14er” refers to the…

When you have a negative team member, strive to understand what’s happening. Leading a negative team member can be frustrating. You have a vision, and you’re energized about your new solution, but they’re skeptical, critical, and keep bringing up problems. Or, you have to translate new strategic objectives to your team and one person just can’t seem to go there. They shake…

7 Reasons Your Feedback is Being Ignored by Karin Hurt and David Dye Start with yourself to ensure everyone can receive feedback It’s a frustration we hear all the time. “My people aren’t coachable. They’re defensive. It’s like they have a wall and just won’t listen.” We get it. One of the most frustrating human experiences is…

How to Be a Human-Centered Leader when You’re Stressed, Anxious, or Freaked-Out Many people find it easier to be a human-centered leader when everything’s going well. But when you’re stressed and anxious, it’s easy to snap at your team, lose your temper, and undermine the culture you’ve worked so hard to build. If you have too many of these freak-out moments, your…

The Great Resignation is new–the art of cultivating loyalty is consistent When you hear stats like 4 million Americans resigned their roles in one month or that 40% are considering a change in job, you might feel nervous. The pandemic has certainly created upheaval and transformed work. If you feel anxious about the future, you’re not alone. Leaders across industries face…